Section 596.220  Project Requirements

a)         Projects funded through this Subpart shall respond to requests for proposals distributed by the Department and delineating project expectations.

b)         Requests for proposals prepared by the Department shall address one or more of the following goals:

1)         Adapting to changes in service needs and expectations in the hospital's service areas;

2)         Collaborating with other providers to efficiently and effectively provide services;

3)         Improving access to primary health care or emergency services;

4)         Using interactive telecommunications technologies.

c)         Projects shall have a director who is responsible for administrative and fiscal management of the project.

d)         Projects that establish a clinic using grant funds shall provide, at a minimum, the level of services required by the Rural Health Clinic Act and, when eligible, shall seek certification as either a Rural Health Clinic or a Federally Qualified Health Center or FQHC Look-Alike.

e)         Projects shall develop a consortium of agencies and providers, with involvement of a minimum of two additional agencies or service providers, local businesses, institutions, service organizations, and other health and social service providers. Consortium members may include urban entities, but services shall be targeted to residents of rural and downstate areas. The majority of funds shall be used in and the applicant shall be located in a rural or downstate area.

f)         Projects selected for funding that build on existing activities shall demonstrate an increase in service recipients and maintenance or increase in the level of previously available funds used to support the project prior to receipt of funds under this Part.

g)         Projects that propose to provide health care diagnostic and treatment services shall have written statements of cooperation with any other service area providers receiving State or federal grant support for related services.

h)         Projects that propose to provide health care diagnostic and treatment services shall submit as part of the application a cost report documenting entire project costs and all revenue sources and amounts.

i)          Projects shall document that local funds, cash or in-kind services, equivalent to 50 percent of the annual project cost, will be available and used to support the operations of the project.

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 14147, effective August 4, 2011)